LAST MILE TRANSIT Program Feasibility Study and Conceptual Design
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Fremont Innovation District LAST MILE TRANSIT Program Feasibility Study and Conceptual Design Prepared by: Fremont Innovation District LAST MILE TRANSIT Program Feasibility Study and Conceptual Design Table of Contents 1. Executive Summary 1-1 2. Statement of Purpose 2-1 3. Introduction 3-1 3.1 City of Fremont .............................................................................................................................3-1 3.2 Fremont Innovation District ..........................................................................................................3-1 3.3 Warm Springs/South Fremont BART Station ...............................................................................3-4 3.4 Warm Springs/South Fremont Community Plan ..........................................................................3-4 4. Existing Conditions 4-1 4.1 Roadway, Bike, and Pedestrian Infrastructure .............................................................................4-1 4.2 Existing Transit Services and Infrastructure .................................................................................4-3 5. Future Conditions 5-1 5.1 Roadway, Bike, and Pedestrian Infrastructure .............................................................................5-1 5.2 BART Extensions into Santa Clara County ...................................................................................5-1 5.3 Future Bus Transit Services and Infrastructure .............................................................................5-2 6. Last Mile Shuttle Service 6-1 6.1 Stakeholder Outreach ...................................................................................................................6-1 6.2 Potential Routes ...........................................................................................................................6-5 6.3 Potential Shuttle Costs, Operating Revenues and Program Funding ........................................6-15 7. Last Mile Shuttle Service Program Implementation 7-1 7.1 Engage Employers and District Property Owners ........................................................................7-1 7.2 Transportation Management Association Implementation Program ............................................7-2 8. Conclusions 8-1 9. Sources 9-1 Concept of Operations .....................................................................................................................9-10 Feasibility Study and Conceptual Design Final of 4/4/17 Fremont Innovation District LAST MILE TRANSIT Program Feasibility Study and Conceptual Design List of Figures Figure 2-1: BART Alignment in South Fremont, Including Phase 1 Extension to Santa Clara County (Late 2017) .....................................................................................2-4 Figure 3-1: Fremont Innovation District .............................................................................................3-2 Figure 3-2: Warm Springs/South Fremont West Access Bridge and Plaza .......................................3-5 Figure 3-3: Warm Springs/South Fremont Community Plan Area Major Projects .............................3-8 Figure 4-1: Existing Sidewalk Infrastructure ......................................................................................4-2 Figure 4-2: Existing Bike Infrastructure ..............................................................................................4-4 Figure 4-3: Existing Transit Network ................................................................................................4-12 Figure 5-1: Potential Future Transit Network .....................................................................................5-4 Figure 6-1: Morning Commute – Work Arrival ...................................................................................6-1 Figure 6-2: Evening Commute – Work Departure ..............................................................................6-2 Figure 6-3: Primary Travel Mode ........................................................................................................6-2 Figure 6-4: Zip Code Distribution ......................................................................................................6-4 Figure 6-5: Representative Shuttle Bus (32 feet in length; 26-30 seated passengers)......................6-7 Figure 6-6: Full Service Routes A, B, C and D .................................................................................6-10 Figure 6-7: Mid-Day Routes .............................................................................................................6-14 List of Tables Table 4-1: Existing AC Transit Bus Services in South Fremont/Warm Springs (No WS/SF BART Station) ..................................................................................................................4-8 Table 4-2: Anticipated AC Transit Bus Services in South Fremont/Warm Springs With WS/SF BART Station ................................................................................................................4-10 Table 4-3: Existing VTA Bus Services in South Fremont/Warm Springs (No WS/SF BART Station) ...4-11 Table 6-1: Recommended Commuter Service Hours ........................................................................6-7 Table 6-2: Estimated Budget for Commuter Routes ........................................................................6-15 Appendices A. Existing Roadway, Bicycle and Pedestrian Infrastructure B. Future Roadway, Bicycle and Pedestrian Infrastructure Improvements C. Survey Form D. Open House Flyer E. Framework for Operations of Last Mile Service F. Transportation Management Association Implementation and Best Practices Feasibility Study and Conceptual Design Final of 4/4/17 Fremont Innovation District LAST MILE TRANSIT Program Feasibility Study and Conceptual Design 1. Executive Summary The principal objective of the Innovation District Last Mile Transit Program Feasibility Study and Conceptual Design is to recommend potential near- and long-term sustainable and actionable transit programs. These programs are designed to improve access to the new Warm Springs/South Fremont (WS/SF) BART Station for existing and future employment centers and residents within two to three miles of the station. The Innovation District, which includes the areas of Warm Springs, South Fremont, and Bayside west of Interstate 880, is the City’s most intense employment hub measuring over 2,500 acres set in an environment with considerable undeveloped or underdeveloped land. Development opportunities in the Innovation District allow for significant sustainable growth, but present a problem in mobility. Currently, there is not an adequate public transit system to connect employees from the WS/SF BART Station to their places of employment. The missing connection between a transit hub and a final destination is referred to as a “last mile” challenge. It is a travel market not easily served by conventional transit, but can be captured by a well-designed and holistic alternative transit program including a shuttle service. Without last mile options, employees will opt out of public transportation or struggle to connect between transit stations and their worksite. This feasibility study seeks to: • serve commuters arriving at the WS/SF BART station (including addressing midday transit options to Pacific Commons during the lunch hour) • Reduce the number of people driving alone to work • Identify potential near- and long-term last mile transportation solutions • Provide a toolbox for sustainable funding and implementation strategies • Develop a sustainable framework to accommodate phased growth • Implement safe, reliable, comfortable, fast, and seamless transit options To understand the barriers employees face in their daily commute and what influences their choice in transportation, Kimley- Horn issued an employee survey to the largest employers in the Innovation District, including: Western Digital, Solar City, Seagate, and LAM Research. Due to the underdeveloped infrastructure in the Innovation District, Kimley-Horn focused on a last mile shuttle service to fulfill the needs of the employees. The survey provided guidance on shuttle route designs, which were then presented at an open house for employers to provide feedback. A significant percentage of those surveyed reside in zip codes located along the BART corridors, and therefore could greatly benefit from the potential of a transit program Figure( 6-4: Zip Code Distribution). Case studies show that the most effective transportation demand management (TDM) programs are best managed and monitored by transportation management associations (TMAs) formed by business communities and property owners. More often than not, boards of TMAs are comprised of their members/users, commuter representatives, key stakeholders, and typically include participation by the city, transit and other mobility providers. A full-service “fare free” shuttle program (with 15 minute frequencies), including four peak period routes connecting WS/ SF BART with the majority of businesses in the Innovation District, is estimated to cost approximately $1.4 million annually to operate and administer. Because the Innovation District represents a large service area (nearly 4 square miles) and includes a diverse mix of small, medium and large-sized employers, rollout of a full-service transit program with a private shared-services funding model would be challenging. A conservative and strategically phased approach to rolling out the